Aren't We Lucky

by Sarah Forbes Stewart, Nicola Coughlan (Narrator)

Abby and Hetty are best friends. Aren't they?

A deliciously dark novel about the unravelling of a friendship, for fans of Liane Moriarty, Taylor Jenkins Reid and Donna Tartt. Narrated by Nicola Coughlan ( Derry Girls , Bridgerton ).

Life’s not going well for forty-year-old Abby. When her beautiful and charismatic best friend dies suddenly, she’s left reeling. Hetty’s always been such a dominant force in her life; now Abby must figure out who she is – and who she wants to be – without Hetty by her side. Abby has always been the odd one out in Hetty’s wealthy, privileged friendship group.

Despite their differences, Abby has managed to carve out a place for herself. But Hetty isn’t an easy friend to have. She blows hot and cold, alternating between fierce loyalty and unwarranted cruelty. Abby accepts both versions of Hetty, just grateful for the attention … until she’s not. From divorces and weddings, via awkward dinner parties and dead-end relationships, to soul-sucking first jobs and dubious flatshares, Abby recounts the story of her great friendship with Hetty in reverse.

Finally, we meet Abby and Hetty when they first meet each as fresh-faced eighteen-year-olds with their whole lives ahead of them…and no idea of the tragedy that lies ahead.

Genres: Audiobook, Fiction, Thriller, Crime, Mystery, Friendship, Mystery Thriller

Audible Audio

Published March 31, 2025

Reviews

[Janah Rehman · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️ I enjoyed this, I really liked some of the characters. Nichola Coughlan is an excellent narrator and really immersed you in the story. Fuck Hetty.

[Jo Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh ye of little faith. I downloaded this audible original with my usual low expectations thinking at least Nicola Coughlan would be nice to listen to for a while. I’m usually prone to saying these are all production and little substance of story so you could knock me over with a feather right now, it wasn’t just ok, it was bloody great.

From the opening with a lovely cover of Joy Division’s Love Will Tear Us Apart (and closes out with the same) to the fantastic narration by Nicola but also the story was brilliant. I was captivated by the story almost immediately. I was absolutely positive that I’d sussed the twist until the very last few chapters!

Loved it.

3.75 🌟

[Chrissie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an easy to follow story, essentially dealing with a group of longstanding friends, the funeral of one of the friends, and a great twist.

The main character is Irish, as is the lovely narrator (Nicola Coughlan of Bridgerton fame), but the variety of other accents are all expertly performed - even their diverse personalities come through.

Thank you Nicola, you added to my enjoyment immensely! This is also why it gets four stars, but specifically for the audio version.

[Julia Buckley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well-written tale of a young, naive girl who befriends a rich girl at college and is thrown into her privileged friend group. Twenty years later, one of them is dead (Not a spoiler, but revealed on the first page).

I found the whole book compelling, though I did find some of the characters rather stereotypical.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. Something to really get my teeth into

It would have been 4 stars except I was really irritated by a couple of subtle political points of view slipped in. Someone was described as having nasty views on immigration and climate change. Why do this and risk alienating readers? if I want politics I read newspapers, but books are escapism and shouldn't lecture, even in the tiniest of ways.

[Poppy Duggan · Rating 2 out of 5]

ok for an audible original. the narration by the wee lesbian from Derry Girls is what makes it

[Jack Bates · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read an earlier version of this for Sarah and I loved it. I haven't listened to the published version but I assume it's better, which means it will be great!

[Jennifer E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book is quite good, Nicola Coughlan reading it is fantastic!

[G Mac · Rating 2 out of 5]

Firstly, I really liked the narrator’s voice. But other than that, I found this book was a bit unhappy, a little predictable, and a bit dull. The pattern of ‘now’ and ‘past’ was sometimes confusing, too.

[Laura-Tuesday · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was a bit of a mixed bag for me. Aren’t We Lucky had some really lovely writing and a few emotional punches that hit just right, but overall, I didn’t quite connect with it as much as I hoped. I really empathised with the main character, always a little bit on the outside, not quite getting it right, which felt very real and relatable. But I just couldn’t connect with her meekness around Hetty, who was honestly awful. I kept wanting her to stand up for herself or at least push back a little, but it never really happened in a satisfying way. The themes were interesting and there were glimmers of brilliance, but the pacing dragged at times and I was left feeling a bit flat by the end. Glad I read it, just not one that will really stick with me.

[Amber Chatwin · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

[Lynnsey Armstrong · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing remarkable about this one except Nicola Coughlan's narration! I loved her accent and how she embodied the various characters by changing her voice. Her Hetty voice was so distinctive. She truly sounded like a different person! As for the story itself, it was mostly entertaining. The relationship between Hetty and Abby reminded me of the one between the two friends in Something Borrowed. The twist was pretty predictable, but it was still good!

[Daniela Rosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The narrator made this book interesting, her accent is beautiful and really enjoyed listening to her. I gave this an extra star for her.

I found the novel somewhat slow, but the twist at the end for was a surprise. Sometimes I was frustrated with Abby for not seeing how awful Hetty was towards her.

[Jess Potts · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ending took me by surprise! I liked how it went back and forth between the now and the past so that it slowly built up your perception of the characters and then went in a direction I wasn’t expecting. Definitely worth the listen if you appreciate reverse storytelling and light suspense/mystery.

[Brenda Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened on Audible and found it very enjoyable. I liked the timeline which jumped around rather than being chronological . Some aspects of the friendship between the two central characters really rang true. I found Hetty’s swings from acts of kindness to her friend to, at times, insensitive and even cruel acts towards her especially poignant.
Liked the twists in the last few chapters too.

[Erica Behnke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice twist at the end

[kerrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this . completely accidental find (thought it was something else) but within a few chapters found myself hooked. relaxing and completely relatable characters . Nice relaxed pace for a chill summer read or listen and Nicola Coughlan narrated perfectly on audible.

[Jennifer Rodriguez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not everyone is your friend...People tend to show you their true colors but how many of us actually listen to the little voice in our heads. Good read.

[Lucy Platt · Rating 3 out of 5]

good story, wasn't the ending I expected

[Jo Jestico · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully narrated

[Brooke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nicola Coughlans narration carried this but other than that this book was really lacking.

[Rubes J Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew there was a twist coming, however, it didn’t come until the last chapter. You won’t say it was complete predictable but it wasn’t shocking either. I found the ending somewhat satisfying. There was a good range in characters who felt real. Rated it 3.5 on Fable

[Wanda Hynes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this audible listen. Narrated very well, written well, engaging. Screw you Hetty!

[Corey Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid easy story about navigating relationships with long term friends but okay plot twist?! 3 stars but extra star for Nicola as narrator, made it that much more enjoyable

[Freya Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started listening to this on Audible on a whim when was feeling uninspired about next listen as included in membership. Narrated by Nicola Coughlan (Derry Girls) who is an excellent narrator.
A 'floaty Irish fiction' with fleshed out characters but also enough plot to keep you interested. Worth a listen. 4 🌟

[Martina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good storyline, I enjoyed it. Nicola Coughlan was an amazing choice for Narrator.

[Lozz’s Random Reads McKenzie - Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow!

Talk about the “toxic” friends group.

This book had me staying awake at nights listening to the excellent narrative of Nicola Coughlan ( Bridgestone ).

It centres around Abby and her extraordinary relationship with the Uber rich, beautiful. Vivacious, self centred, Hetty.

Having first met at College, where Abby was the poor scholarship kid, their friendship group soon expands to include several other characters, James and Charlie ( female ) Effie, Max all are, well,to do, comfortably off.

For Abby though, it’s always a struggle financially to keep up with her friend’s group.

But, above tall is her relationship with Hetty, and how her admiration for her, ends up with…
Well.
Abby being treated like a doormats.

Hetty is the girl everyone else seems to obit around.

As we start this story, it’s from the POV of Abby’s reminiscence.

Of a time when they were all eighteen, having fun in Scotland during Summer holidays.

It’s here where, we are introduced to everyone m and learn of their relationships.

It’s also the same location that over two decades later Hetty’s body will be found.


From that point on, the story jumps between the past and present, as we learn more about the complicated friendship of Abby and Hetty.

We also learn about the connection between Abby and Max, and their bubbling attraction for each other over the years , that they don’t seem in the right place to act upon.


As we go retrograde through the years, one thing becomes plain and clear.


The absolute selfishness, and entitlement that IS Hetty,

AND!
How she takes people for granted in her life.

She enjoys her standing in her friends group, and in the public eye, and society in general, and is determined to maintain it.

It appears to have come to fruition when she gets a spot on breakfast television after being on a lame home decoration show.

But!

It’s when Hetty feels her star is about to wain, as far as her public is concerned , that she pulls her ultimate betrayal.


As for Abby, she has struggling through a group of mundane catering jobs, before rising to a plum job in customer

service, before she meets, Adam, her boyfriend, and is finally able to be her photographic/ creative skills to work
, putting her savings into their growing Wedding Photography Business.

But things rarely run smoothly, as she and Adam have issues, and soon her anger boils over resulting in tragedy.

As a lover of Suspense/ Thrillers , this story had me hooked from the get go.

( plus! Nicola’s soothing voice 😘 )

Betrayal, wealth, hints of dark academia., UK setting

Loved it !!!

[Bodies in the Library · Rating 3 out of 5]

I downloaded this from Audible after several members of a summer reading challenge read it and enjoyed it.

I believe that the real university on which the fictitious one in the novel is based is the one at which I did my undergrad and, as a result, the characters and their attitudes were very, very familiar to me. Unfortunately, this also made the whodunnit aspect very, very obvious. That didn't spoil the book for me - whodunnit isn't its main point - it's just the only reason it came in as a 3-star rather than a 4-star read.

I've been quite surprised by the reactions to Abby. As a working class person at what I believe to be the same university, I personally found it a great eye-opener to be in a majority privately-educated, wealthy student body. It taught me at a young age that people are just people and everyone has problems. It also taught me that money can't buy you happiness but it can be used to buy people out of trouble - blind eyes are sometimes turned to very bad behaviour by people like Abby's so-called-best friend Hetty.

I'm not quite sure whether I am right to see Abby as an unreliable narrator, but I very much do. I had a bit of a Google and couldn't find anything from the author on whether we're meant to take Abby's story at her word or not (although I did find this interview, which was full of lots of helpful advice for starting-out writers and which made me warm to the author and her own down-to-earth and modest personality: https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/... )

In any case, it just seems to me that although Hetty was definitely not someone I would like to spend a lot of time with, I'm not sure Abby's account is 100% honest with herself and with us as readers. I mean, what a coincidence that she should meet 2 very wealthy people who want her to live with them and who help her out of sticky situations - first Hetty and then Fiona. Sure, it's not pleasant for her to be the "poor friend" or the "only single one" or the talented writer who can't face sending her completed manuscript to agents. Of course it's not. But what a coincidence that in the end, after sending out to only two agents, Abby achieves all her dreams.

Is it just me, or is Abby not quite as passive as her narrative suggests?

Isn't she, as the novel's title suggests, lucky?

Anyway, I hope that Sarah Forbes Stewart will do some events I can get to, as I am really keen to know more. And I will be looking out for her future work. Great writer.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was an audible original and the narration was superb and really added life to the story. The characters were interesting and multi-faceted. It began with the untimely death of Hatty. The following chapters then revealed relationships between the friends around her. She placed herself as the epicentre and we saw how the bonds of friendship developed and were tested over the next couple of decades, as the group advanced into their 3sd and early 40s. The story was narrated from the point of view of Abby, on the surface a close friend to Hatty, but also increasingly resentful of her selfish demands and put downs. I felt that it could have been written from another characters viewpoint with perhaps a different interpretation of events. Penelope, a senior neighbour who befriended and supported Abby, surely added credence to the younger woman's point of view and was critical of Hatty's treatment of her. But how much was Abby complicit in allowing herself to be treated in this way, due to her own low sense of worth. I am sure that Hatty would have told a very different version,.as indeed she in her protests in the final chapters. It was an absorbing and well-written story that I found engaging and interesting. I think it would be a good choice for discussion at a book club.

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aren't We Lucky is a sharp, emotionally engaging novel that explores class, privilege, and how easily appearances — and friendships — can deceive. Stewart draws a compelling portrait of women navigating complicated relationships with ambition, envy, trust, and invisible barriers that divide them.

What I appreciated most was the way the author peels back the layers of respectability and “success,” revealing insecurity, jealousy, and longing underneath. The characters feel real and flawed, their relationships messy and believable — which makes the emotional stakes feel genuine. The story had me thinking long after I finished.

Some parts felt a little heavy — dealing with social pressure and inequality — and not all characters are easy to like. But that’s part of what gives the book its depth: it doesn’t shy away from the hard, uncomfortable truths about privilege and relationships.

Overall: a thought‑provoking, powerful read about class, friendship and how lucky doesn’t always mean “safe.” Perfect if you enjoy character‑driven novels with emotional depth and social awareness.